Modern Literary Fiction Book Cover Design (Featuring silhouette, portrait, and frame)

Visuals: A crisp white background with a bold, square red frame positioned in the center, symbolizing the ominous portrait. Overlapping the bottom right corner of the frame is a small black silhouette of the male protagonist in profile, gazing inward toward the red frame. The negative space creates a stark and modern appeal, keeping the focus on the red frame and the silhouette.

Typography: Elegant, sans-serif typography in all caps for the book title, positioned above the red frame on a single line. Font has clean, sharp edges for a modern and refined feel.

Layout: The book title is placed at the top of the cover with ample spacing above it, creating a balanced composition. The bold red square frame dominates the center, while the silhouette overlaps partially with the bottom corner of the frame. Negative space surrounds the central elements for a clean, modern aesthetic.

Explanation: The visual composition uses the bold red square to symbolize the portrait's ominous presence and its central role in the story, while the silhouette represents the protagonist’s connection to the painting. The minimal design and negative space evoke a stark and modern feel, keeping it intriguing without overwhelming the viewer. The choice of a sans-serif font complements the modern aesthetic, while embossing and gloss elements add subtle texture and dimension to enhance the design's impact on the physical substrate. This combination reflects the dark literary themes and aligns with the genre's visual expectations while maintaining simplicity and elegance.